Improvement in corn-harvesters



4 Sheets-Sheet 2; uFISHER & HOLCOMB.

Corn Harvester.

Patented May I1, 1869.4

- Nol 89,979.

FISHER a HoLeoM.

www Corn Harvester.

Patented May `11, '1869,

1m PETERS El'mlqtillbgnpte'. washington. D, C.

4 Sheets-Sheet- FISHER & HOLCOMB.

C orn Harvester.

No, 89,979. Patented May 11, .1869.

To all whom it'may concern Letters Patent No. 89,979, dated May 111, 1869.

` IMPRovnMENT 1N coRN-HARvEsTERs.

The vSchedule referred to inllllthese Letters Patent' and making part of the sama.

Beit known that we, J AMES H. Frsrrnn and Genaues HoLcoM,'of Meudota, in the county of La Salle, and State .of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-Harvesters; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description `of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved machine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line y y of tig. 4, showing the arrangement ofthe various arts. l p Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on line a; x of fig; 4, showing the arrangement ofthe driving-gears and the elevators for carrying away the ears of corn after they have been husked.

Figure 4 is a pian view of the trame of the machine,

showing, also, how the gears and shifting to which they4 are attached are arranged.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view. of the frame in which the husking-rollers are placed.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, and y Figure 7,3. plan view of the arm which operates the wheel which receives the stalks from the apron, and deposits them upon the ground.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the rear part oi' the machine, showing the' lever by which the cutters are raised and lowered, and the wheel by which the direction of the machine is controlled.

Figure 9 is a front View of tl1e`husking-rollers and their fastenings, showing, also, the balanced wheels upon the endsV of their shafts. u

`Figure 10 is a transverse section of the huskiugrollers.

Eigure 11 is a top view of the endless `apron upon which the stalks are delivered after having been husked.

Corresponding,V letters refer to corresponding parts in the several iigures.

4This .invention relates to that class of machines which is designed to cnt and husk corn and It consists in the construction,combination, and ar rangement of the parts comprising such machine, as will be fully described hereinafter.

A A, in the drawings, represent the name-work of the machine, which is to be made of wood, and have the necessary cross-beams, A, A, and A3, for the support of the different parts of the machinery, as shown in ii 4.

BgB represent the-driviug-.wheels ot' the machine, which maybe constructed similar to the wheels of an ordinary wagon, they having hubs, i'elloes, and spokes, as in such wheels, thefelloes to be shod with an iron tire, and the wheels to-be secured to an iron shaft, which extends` from thatl portion of the frame marked A to the portion A, and hasviron bearings in suitable boxes secured to the sides A A of the frame.

Just within the felices of these. wheels there is to be -attached to the spokes a bevelled Wheel, or segments 'ot' gearing, which shall constitute a driving-gear, for driving thevarious part of the machine, hereafter to be described.

' B represents a chain-pulley, which is to be secured to the shaft, outside of one ofthe driving-wheels, and is to have its periphery serrated, orA so constructed as lo receive the links ofa chain which passes around it, for the purpose of driving the reel which gathers the corn in, and helps to carry it to the cutters.

B2 represents the geawheels, which are to be at` taehed to the driving-wheel, and which mesh into and drive the piuions-Bi, B, B5, and B6.

The Vpinion B3, being upon that side ot' the machine which has its driving-gear upon the outside-of the.

driving-wheel, is for the purpose of driving the shaft-1, Lo which the pulleys 2 and 3 are secured, and which drive the shaft 4, upon which is a drum, over which the belts R' pass, for the purposeoi' carrying the stalks to wheel V, which deposits them upon the ground.

v The pinion B, which meshes into the same drivingwheel as does B3, but at a point opposite to it, is for the purpose of driving the shaftiE, to which thejrod leading to and moving the cutters is attached.

The pinion B5, being upon the side of the'machine opposite to those last described, and meshing into the periphery of the driving-gear upon that side ofthe machine, or into cogs formed upon such periphery, is for the purpose of driving the sha; F2, .to one end 0f which itis toV be secured, while the pinion B5 is arranged upon the opposite side of the same drivinggear, and is forrthe purpose of driving-'the huskingrollers. z A C represents a spur-,geaxgwhieh is to be secured 'to thatend of shaft 4 which isnearest to the, drivinggear B?, such shaft having its bearings in the beams A A of' the main frame. l C @represent spur-gear wheels, which are to be secured to the shaft 4 near its ends, they being so ar, lang'cdas to mesh into pinons upon .the outer ends oi' the lower hashing-roller, N.

C2 represents a spur-wheel, which is mounted upon shaft 5, which has its bearings in that portion of the frame designated by Az and A3, it being for the pur-4 pose of driving the wheel C. 4

Upon the shaft of wheel C2 there is @clutch-coupling, for the purpose ofthrowing such wheels into and out of gear with the driving-wheel.

D D represent guards or gatherers, which are to be secured to the-front of the main frame, or to an apron attached thereto.

These gatherers are to be constructed substantially ,as represented in tigs. l and 4, and so arranged esto pass upon each side of two rows ofthe standing corn,

and gather them, or ang/stalks of them which may be somewhat separated from the others, inwani,and guide them directly tothe cutters, which are to be arranged between them.

Dl Dl represent -fingers or guards, which are tn be attached, it being heldv in position by suitable bearings,

through which it slides, such bearings being secured to the frame-work of the machine, or to some attachment thereto. c

D4 represents a connecting-rod, one end of which is secured to the end of the cutter-bar, while its opposite end is to be attached to a crank-pin in the wheel E, which causes it to give the required movementto said cutter-bar.

E represents a disk-wheel, which is to be secured to the outer end of shaft E, and is to have a crank-pin inserted into it, at such a distance from its centre as to give the required amount ol' motion to the cutters.

El represents a shaft, which is to be arranged in bearings resting upon the main frame, as in g. 4, and is to have secured to it the pulley E", in such a position as to drive orbe' in line with the pulley H3, upon the shaft of elevator H.

This shaft, and the pulleys and crank attached thereto, are to be driven by the pinion B, upon the end of the shaft, as above described.

F represent-s an endless belt or apron, which is to be arranged near the front end of the machine, and just in the rea'r of the cutters. so that, as the corn is out, the stalks, or those portions of them which have`V been cut oft', will fall upon such apron, and be by itcarried toward and deposited upon the incline L, which guides them to the husking-rollels.

This apron has, upon its outer surface, cleats, 1+,

for the purpose'of aiding in the movement Vof the.

stalks. It passes over a small pulley, F, at one point, which pulley is secured to shaft F2, while at another point it passes around a pulley or roller, F, upon shaft F, by which former shaft and pulley this belt isdriven.

G represents a pulley or drum, which is to be secured to the shaft G, which shaft is arranged in bearings in the main frame, and has, upon its out-er end, a pulley, G2, which is in line with and is driven by pulleyl 2 on Shaft l. v

G3 represents an endless belt or apron, which passes around the pulley or drum G upon shaft- G, and around a corresponding pulley, arranged as shown in fig. 4.

This apron is provided with cleats or projections upon its outer surface, forthe purpose of carrying forward the ears of the corn after they have been hnsked,

and depositing them ill the elevator H.

H H represent the shafts of the elevator. they being arranged at a right angle to .the driving-shaft of the machine, the upper 'one being driven bymeans of a pulley, H3, upon its outer end, over which a belt passes from the pulley E2, which'is secured-to the shaft E.

H2 represents a casing for the elevator-belt to run in, while Hl represents cleats secured to the beltor apron of the elevator, they being so constructed as'to receive the ears of corn from the apron or belt G3, and elevate them into the hopperor spoutl K, as shown clearly in tig. 3.

I represents a receptacle for the ears of corn, into which they are delivered by the belt or apron G, and from which they are taken by the elevator', and carried np and deposited in spout K.

Thisreceptacle is to be constructed as shown in tig. 3, it having the concave interior surface there shown,

and it being so arranged, with reference tothe' elevator, that the projections formed thereon shall take up therefrom the ears of corn, and carry them to their priver place.

y K ,represents a spout or chute,which is to be attached to the upper end of the elevator-case, and so arranged that it will receive the ears of corn fromsuch elevator, and deposit them in aavagonV or cart, which may be driven along by the side of the machine; or the cars may be allowed to fall into any other receptacle provided for their reception; or they may be deposited upon the ground, and afterward gathered up and placed in a wagon or cart.

4 L represents an inclined plane, of which there are two, one arranged in the rear of the other, but 'at a distance from each other suicient to permit ears of corn to pass down between them.

The outer one of these planes is so arranged, that `its lowest part comes nearly in contact with the inner edge of the endless belt or apron F, and is designed to receive the stalks of corn from such apron, and conduct them to the bushing-rollers.

The object in providing two of these planes is to provide a passage between them for the passage of the ears of corn (after they have been husked) to the apron G3, they being so arranged, however, that such ears may pass down through such space; or they may pass down upon the outer surface of the outer plane, and be deposited upon the same' apron` which change of direction the ears of corn will sometimes take in practice.

M represents an inclined plane, which is arranged above those already described, but so as to have an inclination the reverse of them, it being designed to assist in guiding the corn' to the husking-rollers. The form and arrangement of this plane are clearly shown in figs. 2 and 3.

N N represent the husking-rollers, which are to have 'their peripheries liuted or corrugated, as shown in fig.

.10, so that, as the ears of the corn are presented te their surfaces, the husks thereon will be stripped o", and carried between such rollers, while the ears of corn will fall down through the spaces provided therefor, as before described.

These rollers may be three inches in diameter, or more or less than that, and of a length snlicient to extend across the machine, or so far across it as to receive the length of the stalks that are cut olf, and that are to he passed between such rollers.

The combination of these tinted rollers with a comhusking machine is regarded' as of great importance, as it is believed `that they possess advantages in that connection greater than any other form of rollers.-

` N? represents fly or balance-wheels, which are to be placed upon the outer ends of the shafts of the husk- .ing-rollers, for the purpose of regulating the motion ofsuch rollers.

' O'epresentsa standard, or frame, in which there -are to be placed sliding boxes, for the reception of the journals ofthe husking-rollcrs, they being so arranged as to be capable of adjustment vertically, in the jambs f of the frame.

Between the journal vofthe upper one of these rollers and the cap, which extends across the upper ends of the jambs of the frame in which they rotate, there is to be placed a rubber, or other spring, which is for the purposeof allowing the space between the rollers to be increased when occasion requires. If found necessary,

Q represents a wheel, or spider, consisting of a shaft, having four projecting arms, which radiate from the shaft in opposite directions.

` This wheel is arranged directly in the rear of the h nsking-rollers, and is designed to receive the stalks from such rollers, and transfer them to the apron R.

, It represents the iiamerwork of auendless apron or beltwhich is to be arranged transversely to the length of the` huskin`g-rollers, and immediately in the rear of V,xthelwheel (,)mfrom whichit receives the stalks, and

carriesthem to the depositing-wheel V, shown in iig. l. R represents a series of belts, which compose this endless apron, and which pass over rollers at each end ofthe frame-work thereof, and are driven by a pulley, Y `on the shaft 1. Ryrepre'seuts cleats, or cross-ba1s, which are to be secured 'to thebelts El, at ,suitable .distances apart, to aid in carrying the stalks to the wheel.

S represents a lever, which is to be secured to the end-piece A3 of the frame, by means of a belt, or yoke,

from which point it extends forward, and has its from end securedto the crossbeari1 A of the frame'.

The rear end of this lever is to have upon its side a spring, s, to the outer end of which ahandle is attached, or upon which such handle is formed, such spring being for the purpose of enteringr notches formed upon a sheet of metal, or of wood, which is to be secured to the standard T, in which such lever ahd spring move, the arrangement of these parts being such as that when the rear end of lever S is depressed, the

front end oi' the machine will be elevated, and thus afford the means of cutting the stalks of the corn at any desired distance from the earth. Y T 'represents thestandard above alluded to,` which --is to be secured to thetongue, or arm U, and is to be ceive the eye-bolt, which connects its upper end with the standard, or arm U2, which supports and guides the steering,` or guiding-wheel U.

Just in front of the guiding-wheel, and just in rear of the termination of the lever U, is the driveis, or

operators seat, it being so arranged that he can, at the same time, give direction tothe machine, by means of the handle U, upon the upper end of the arm U2, and

regulate the height at which the stalks shall be cut, by

means of the'lever S.

The part' at which the horses may be attached for propelling this machine, may be just in front of the operators seat. I

V represents a wheel, having three or four radiating arms, which is to be secured to the side of the machine directly opposite the R* delivers the stalks.

This wheel is constructed, in all respects, like the one above described as delivering the stalks and husks from the husking-rollers to the apron Rl. It has no drivlng-pulley, but its movements are regulated by means of a bell-crank lever, V', which is pivoted to the frame A, and has one of its arms extending inward, so as to come in contact with a cam, or projection, lwhich is formed upon or secured tothe side of the drivingwheel, or to one of the spokes thereof, in such a manner that once during each revolution of such wheel,

' this projection comes in contact with this arm of the lever, and carries it forward, so as to withdraw the opposite end from under-.one of the-wings, or arms of the wheel V, and allow it to perform one or three-fourths point where the apron frame, there being one upon each side of the machine,

they being for the purpose of holding in position the arms c, in the outer ends. of which the journals of the reel turn. W

bb represent standards, which are to -besecured to the `frame A, at a part somewhat inl the rear of the cutters.

These standards are to have in their upper ends a series of holes, so that the arm c may be raised orlowered, and thus placed or held in any desired position, b ymeans `of bolts passing through such arms and standards, which arrangement is clearly shown in iig. 2.

d d represent the arms of areel, which is to be placed in the outer ends of the arms c, wherea series-of holes is provided for its journals, so vthat it may be carried backward or forward, as occasion `may require.

e 'e represent cross-bars, or slats, which extend from one of the armsd of the reel to the other, as shown in iig. l, they having their outer ends curved, as shown iu the same figure, for the purpose of gathering in the stalks of the corn, and guiding them to the cutters.

it should be remarked, with reference to the husking-rollers, that they are each driven by separate gearwheels, O and G, but the upper one has, between it and such driving-gear, a pinion of the same diameter, and having the same number of cogs, or teeth, as the one upon the roller-shaft, which intermediate gear works upon a stud attached to the jambs of fram'e O,v and thus communicates its motion to the pinion upon the shaft of the upper roller.

'lo provide for a continuous motion of theA huskingrollers for some time after the machine has beenstopped,v we fit the wheels O' loosely upon the shaft 4, and provide upon their inner surfaces, or upon their hubs, a ratchet-wheel and a dog, which are to be so arranged that when the machine is in motion, the wheels willf be made to rotate with the shaft, but when, from any cause, it becomes necessary to stop the machine, the movement of the y-wheels upon the husking-rollers will act, through the pinion thereon, to cause such gearwheels to r ltate upon their shaft, and thus the husking of any corn, or ears of corn, which may have been commenced when suchA stoppage occurred, will be completed, andthe rollers be ready to receive more when the machine is again started. l

To provide for throwing the bushing-rollers out oi' and into gear with the driving-wheel, when the chine is in motion, we provide, upon the shaftof the wheel G, a clutch-coupling, one portion of which is upon the hub of such wheel, which turns freely upon such shaft, while the other portion of such clutch is to be upon a sleeve, which lits upon such shaft, and moves Y loi'igitudinally thereon, but cannot rotate upon it, it-

` being prevented byfa feather in such shaft working ina spline formed in such sleeve.

The arrangement of these devices is such, that by withdrawing the rod W, shown in fig. 4, so that the rod W shall enter one of the depressions formed on its sides, the clutch, or that portion of it to which rod W is connected, will move away from the other portion, and thus leave thebushing-rollers at rest, as well as the wheels C O1,y and the shaft upon which they are carried.

When it is desired to put the above-named `parts in motion again, it is only necessary for the operator to move forward 'the rod W, until one of its projections comes opposite the end of rod W', which will throw the projections of the clutch into contact with each other, and thus the desired object will be effected.

To facilitate lthis operation, the rod W sarranged upon the top of lever S, and extends back to where the operator site.

- forth.

Having thus described our invention,

' What we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Combining with a eoru-harvesting manhineaeornhnsker, havini:r tinted; or corrugated rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The within-descrihed arrangement of the gearwheels C 0*, with reference to the wheel Cz, pinion B,- driving-wheel B2, and pinions N, on the husking-roll` ers, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forthJ Y 3. The arrangement of the iiy-wheels upon the ends of the shafts of the bushing-rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the inclined planes L L with the bushing-rollers.

5. The arrangement of the inclined planes L L, with reference to the apron G Gr2 G3, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The arrangement of the apron G Gr2 GQ, elevator H H, and spout, or delivery K, with reference to the receptacle I, snbstantiallyas and for thepurpose set 7. The combination..and arrangement of the husking-rollers N N, wheel Q, and endless belt, or apron R R R2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. A

8. The arrangement oi' the wheel V, with reference' to the ,endless helgor apron R. R' Rsuhstantially as and i'or the purpose set forth.

9. The arranwement of the cani or n'oection over the driving-wheel, the hell-crank lever V', and depositing-wheel V, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. The arrangement of the endless apron F-FF IF, with reference t0 the cutters and the inclined pianes 

